Copy sheet slipping device for the use of a copying machine incorporating an automatic separation device



Feb. 3, 1970 NOBUYUKI YANAGAWA 3,493,227

COPY SHEET SLIPPING DEVICE FOR THE USE OF A COPYING MACHINE INCORPORATING AN AUTOMATIC SEPARATION DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1967 INVENTOR A/aaz/m/z/ )mramm United States Patent US. Cl. 271-64 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A copy sheet slipping device for the use of a copying machine having means for positioning the respective sheets with the leading edge of one ahead of theother and separating means for separating the first mentioned sheet from its companion sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An automatic separation device of relatively simple structure for separating an original form and a copy sheet which are delivered superposing with each other from a printing device in a copying machine, is constructed with the requirement that the original form and the copy sheet are fed into the automatic separation device with their respective leading edges slipped from each other.

It is already proposed to use a pair of rollers which have respectively different circumferential velocities in order to slip the leading edges of both the original form and the copy sheet off from alignment relative to each other. This utility model relates to a device which slips the leading edges of an original form and a copy sheet off from alignment relative to each other by a pair of rollers, with an object to eliminate drawbacks which may be caused by pressing two rollers having different circumferential velocities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross section of an example copying machine incorporating the embodiment of this utility model;

FIG. 2 is a cross section illustrating the main part only of the present utility model;

FIG. 3 is a cross section showing one mode of an original form and a light sensitive copy sheet being separated; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a copy sheet slipping roller only.

FIG. 1 illustrates a copying machine with an automati separation device embodying the present utility model. Reference numeral 1 designate is a transparent printing cylinder. 2 is a cylindrical printing lamp and 3, a reflector. As known in the art, said transparent printing cylinder 1 is adapted to be rotated in the direction of the arrow by and within a loop of endless belts 5 which are extended over plurality of rollers 4 so that an original form and a light sensitive copy sheet which are fed from an opening 6 can be delivered onto a receiving plate 7 after being printed by the aforesaid lamp 2.

The copy sheet S and the original form 0 thus delivered to said receiving plate 7 are then directed, by the& action of a pair of slipping rollers 8 and 9, upward where an automatic separation device is provided. Reference numeral represents a shaft rotating in the same direction as the roller 9 and carrying a rotatable separation plate 11 which is frictionally connected with said shaft 10. On the periphery of the rotatable separation plate 11 are formed notches 12 and stop portions 13 which are positioned opposite to each other. Parallel with said shaft 10 is a pivot 14 which is axially provided with a bell crank type engagement and disengagement member 15. One arm end 15a of said engagement and disengagement member 15 extends to the position of one of said notches 12 while the other arm end 15b theerof is engaged with one of said stop portions 13 so that when the arm end 15a is pushed upwards by the leading edge of the sensitized copy sheet S, the engagement and disengagement member 15 is adapted to rotate in a clockwise direction around its axis 14, thereby releasing the arm end 15b from engagement with the stop portion 13 of the rotatable separation plate 11.

The rotatable shaft 10 is further provided, alternately with the aforesaid rotatable separation plate 11 with copy sheet transporting rollers 16 which are fixed thereon, the circumference of which are pressed with rollers 18 mounted on a shaft 17.

A shaft 20 of said slipping roller 8 and a shaft 21 of said roller 9 are connected through a large rotatable gear 22 loosely mounted on said shaft 20 and a small gear 23 fixedly mounted on said shaft 21. At each end surface of said large gear 22 are provided suitable friction rings 24a and 2417. On said friction ring 24a is pressed, by elasticity of an expansible spiral spring 26, a pressure plate 25 which rotates integrally with the shaft 21, the pressure of said plate 25 relative to the friction ring 24a being adjustable by turning a spring receiving plate 27 screwed on the end of the shaft 20. The other friction ring 24b of the large gear 22 is pressed upon the end surface of a driving sprocket ring 28 fixed on the shaft 20. As evident from above, the large gear 22 and the shaft 20 are frictionally connected, and thus, the shaft 21 driven by said gear 22 and the other shaft 20 are interrelated through a friction device.

The shaft 20 is driven by the sprocket ring 28 in such a manner as to render circumferential velocity of the slipping roller equal to that of the transparent printing cylinder 1. As a result, the rotary velocity of the shaft 21 fixed with the small gear 23 meshing with the large gear 22 is greater than the rotary velocity of the aforesaid shaft 20 and therefore, the circumferential velocity of the roller 8 is necessarily larger than that of the same sized roller 9. Under the above described status, when the leading edges 0a and Sa of the original form 0 and the copy sheet S are clamped between the slipping rollers 8 and 9 which are rotating at different circumferential speeds, friction between the copy sheet and the roller 9 overcomes the friction force between the copy sheet S and the original form 0, letting the leading edge Sa of the copy sheet S precede the leading edge 0a of the original form 0.

The preceding leading edge Sa of the copy sheet then enters into a notch 12 of the rotatable separation plate 11 through a guide plate 29, rotating an engagement and disengagement member 15 around its axis 14 and releasing thereby engagement of said member 15 with said rotatable separation plate 11. The rotatable separation plate 11 which is frictionally associated with the shaft 10' revolving in the direction of the arrow thereupon rotates, holding the leading edge of the copy sheet, simultaneously with the rotary movement of the shaft 10 and feeds the copy sheet S between the rollers 16 and 18 while delivering the original form separated from the copy sheet out towards the front of the copying machine.

Referring now to FIG. 2, when the leading edge Sa of the copy sheet S precedes that of the original form, the copy sheet is extended under tension between the printing device and the roller 9, whereupon the copy sheet S starts travelling at a same speed as the circumferential velocity of the transparent printing cylinder 1 and the roller 8.

As a result, slippage occurs between the gear 22 and its shaft 20, and the roller 9 is caused to be rotated at a same circumferential velocity as that of the roller 8.

Supposing the shaft 20 were integrated with the gear 22 and no slippage were permitted to occur between the axes 20 and 21, slippage must be permitted to occur between the copy sheet and the roller '9. However, in order for slippage between the copy sheet and the roller 9 to occur, substantial driving force is required for the shaft 21, because friction force between the copy sheet and the roller '9 is determined relatively large. Such substantial driving force, however, expedites abrasion of the circumference of the roller 9. Furthermore, over-tension of the copy sheet is also likely to create ill-effects.

Inasmuch as the roller 9 and its driving axis 20 are so arranged as to cause suitable slippage to ocur therebetween according to this invention, drawbacks and disadvantages such as described above which may be caused by providing two rollers of different circumferential velocities can be eliminated. Needless to mention, the aforesaid friction device provided on the shaft 20 can be equipped on the other shaft 21 instead.

In lieu of providing a friction device between the shaft 20 and 21, it is conjecturable to cut the roller 9 apiece and frictionally connect each piece of the roller with the shaft 21. In this instance, it is extremely ditficult to keep frictional connection between respective cut rollers 9 and the shaft 21 uniform and unless such uniformity is realized, feeding velocities are varied depending upon the rollers, causing creases on the copy sheet or slant delivcry of the copy sheet into the automatic separation device.

I claim:

1. In a copying machine incorporating an automatic copy sheet separation device adapted to separate the original sheet and sensitive copy sheet after exposure thereof, comprising cooperating rollers between which the superimposd sheets pass, means for driving the roller adjacent said copy sheet at a higher linear circumferential speed than the other adajacent to said original sheet to move the leading edge of said copy sheet ahead of the equivalent edge of said original sheet, and a separating device comprising a double notched rotatable disc adapted to receive the leading edge of said copy sheet in a notch and guide it to cooperating rollers for moving it away from said sheet.

2. In a copying machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said notches are substantially apart on the periphery of said disc.

3. In a copying machine as set forth in claim 1, a control step for said notched disc adapted to arrest rotation thereof when there is no copy sheet engaged in either notch and to permit rotation when the leading edge of a copy sheet is engaged in a notch.

4. In a device according to claim 1, a friction slip clutch and an interconnection between said cooperating rollers so that one drives the other through said friction slip clutch.

5. In a device according to claim 4, means permitting said clutch to operate said rollers at the same circumferential speed under some conditions.

References Cited UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 3,017,179 1/1962 Stuckens 271-64 3,304,081 2/1967 Limberger 271-64 3,083,959 4/1963 Breuers 27l-64 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner P0405" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3993, Dated February 3; 1970 Inventofla It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column a, line 15, "step" should be stop SIGNED AND SEALED JUN231970 Anew mm E- 50m. .13.

mammal-1mm I, Gamiaaiom of Patent! Aneatingofficer 

